Combination shipping container and dispenser for plastic film

ABSTRACT

A plurality of plastic films such as plastic bags are packaged in a disposable, compact shipping container which also serves as a self-contained dispenser. The container-dispenser combination comprises a generally rectangular carton having a substantially horizontal dispenser base panel when the combination is disposed in a normal dispensing position. The front end panel is integrally hinged to the dispenser base panel and is releasably openable so as to be coplanar therewith. An elongated leash rod is internally secured athwart and between the main panels near the rear end panel. A restraining member cooperates with the leash rod to engage and restrain the plastic films folded thereover. One end section of the plastic film is overfolded on the leash rod and the other end section is overfolded on itself near the openable front end panel. For dispensing purposes the openable front end panel is opened, the adjacent films unfolded thereon and the innermost films successively pulled from the dispenser one-by-one.

[ 51 June 27, 1972 [54} COMBINATION SHIPPING CONTAINER AND DISPENSER FOR PLASTIC FILM [72] Inventor: Harry P. Eichin, Western Springs, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation, New York,

[22] Filed: June 24,1970

[2!] Appl.No.: 49,367

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,005 ,4 90 6/1935 Baxter .206/57 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,539,708 8/1968 France ....206/57A 24,843 1/1902 GreatBritain ..206/57 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Douglas D. Watts Attorney-Paul A. Rose, John F. Hohmann and Franklyn Schoenberg [5 7] ABSTRACT A plurality of plastic films such as plastic bags are packaged in a disposable, compact shipping container which also serves as a self-contained dispenser. The container-dispenser combination comprises a generally rectangular carton having a substantially horizontal dispenser base panel when the combination is disposed in a normal dispensing position. The front end panel is integrally hinged to the dispenser base panel and is releasably openable so as to be coplanar therewith. An elongated leash rod is internally secured athwart and between the main panels near the rear end panel. A restraining member cooperates with the leash rod to engage and restrain the plastic films folded thereover. One end section of the plastic film is overfolded on the leash rod and the other end section is overfolded on itself near the openable front end panel. For dispensing purposes the openable front end panel is opened, the adjacent films unfolded thereon and the innermost films successively pulled from the dispenser one-by-one.

17 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEmum m2 3,672,494 sum 2 or 2 l NV ENTOR ATT NEY COMBINATION SHIPPING CONTAINER AND DISPENSER FOR PLASTIC FILM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combination plastic film supply, shipping container and dispenser combination. More specifically, in a preferred embodiment it relates to a compact, disposable shipping container and dispenser combination containing a stack of juxtaposed plastic film bags which can be dispensed therefrom one by one without upsetting or otherwise dragging along the remainder of the stack.

While the present invention will be described in connection with particular embodiments relating to a self-contained container-dispenser combination for dispensing plastic filmssuch as plastic film bags for the rapid packaging of articles, it should be understood that the combination of the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. It may also be employed for shipping and dispensing a variety of filmy products as will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of this disclosure.

2. Description of the Prior Art The packaging of products in see-through bags made from thin plastic film such as polyolefin film, including polyethylene and polypropylene film, polyvinylidene chloride Saran film, polyethylene terephthalate Mylar film, polyvinylchloride film, and the like, presents a number of bag shipping and bag dispensing problems which burden the overall bagging operation in a number of ways. In a typical operation, bags of like size are shipped flat or folded in half, depending on their length, in quantities of as much as 500 to 1,000 or more in protective shipping containers. At the bagging location, bags having a variety of sizes are manually removed from their respective shipping containers in desired quantities and loaded in dispensing apparatuses.

In one prior-art technique, like-size bags are disposed in flat piles and tucked into a series of pigeonhole" type receptacles from which the bags are selectively withdrawn as required. In another prior-art technique, bags of like size are folded over at mid-length and hung from a series of horizontally supported rods which are cantilevered radially from a rotatable hub, like spokes on a horizontally disposed wheel. The spokes are rotated towards the bagging station in Lazy Susan fashion for selection of the appropriate size bag.

The bags, however, are large, limp and slippery. Unloading them from cartons and carefully loading stacks of them on such dispensers is time-consuming and costly and often leaves them in disarray, requiring careful rearrangement. Once loaded, the subsequent removal of single bags from the stack often drags along additional undesired bags. The removal of single bags may also skew the remaining bags or completely dislodge them, causing them to slide to the floor. This slows the operation, raises costs, fatigues the operator, results in an untidy work station and creates contamination problems, particularly if food products are being packaged.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a general object of the present invention to reduce the cost of shipping plastic films and employing the same as a bagging medium. It is another general object to provide a combination shipping container and self-contained dispenser for plastic films which overcomes many of the problems associated with prior art techniques. It is another general object to provide a disposable container and dispenser combination for plastic film bags which is not dependent on any particular size or design of bag.

It is a more specific object to provide an inexpensive, disposable combination shipping container and dispenser for plastic films which does away with the container unloading and dispenser loading steps and the associated problems. It is another specific object to provide a self-contained, compact shipping container and dispenser from which plastic film bags may be conveniently dispensed one-by-one without skewing or otherwise dislodging the remaining bags. It is still a further object to provide a simplified and versatile containerdispenser combination which is inexpensive to ship and store and can be quickly converted to its dispensing conformation.

It is another specific object to provide a design for a shipping container and dispenser combination which economizes on the amount of container material. It is still another object to provide a supply of plastic bags in a low-cost disposable shipping container which is readily and conveniently transformable into a dispenser which holds the bags neatly and in substantial alignment. It is still another object to provide a shipping container-dispenser combination which is operative without requiring costly accessory equipment, changes in work patterns, or substantial floor space.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects are achieved by a unique shipping container which converts into a highly efiicient dispenser for the plastic films contained therein. The shipping container comprises a carton, preferably rectangular in configuration and of corrugated cardboard construction, for receiving the film supply internally therein. The carton generally has opposed spaced main panels and complementary side and end panels. When the carton is disposed in a normal dispensing position, one of the main panels, the lower one, constitutes a substantially horizontal dispenser base or support panel. One of the end panels is integrally hinged tothe dispenser base panel and releasably openable so as to be, upon opening thereof, conjoined and generally substantially coplanar with the dispenser base panel, thereby providing a dispensing opening and an extension of the dispenser base panel.

An elongated leash member such as a cylindrical rod of wood, metal or plastic is internally secured within said carton athwart and between the main panels near the closed end of the carton opposite the dispensing openable end. A restraining means internally cooperates with the leash member to engage and restrain the movement of the plastic films folded over the leash member, at least during the dispensing of plastic films therefrom.

One end section of the supply of juxtaposed flexible plastic films such as plastic film bags is upwardly folded over the leash member within the carton and the other end section of the plastic bags is upwardly overfolded on itself adjacent the openable end panel. When the openable end panel is opened and disposed conjointly with the dispenser base panel, the adjacent overfolded bag supply is unfolded on the end panel, thereby exposing the innermost bag for successive dispensing one by one.

To provide a still longer extension to the dispenser base panel, the openable end panel preferably has an integrallyformed, hingedly-movable lip thereon which may be of any desired size. In the dispensing position it also is conjointly disposed with the dispenser base panel and the end panel. In the shipping position, it may be enfolded on the end panel and secured by spot adhesives or the like. It may also be tucked in juxtaposed relation with the main panel opposite the dispenser base panel.

In a preferred embodiment, the lip comprises a portion (or all) of the main panel opposite the dispenser base panel. It may be releasable by means of tear strips, removable adhesive strips, lines of perforations, or other techniques known to those skilled in the art. This preferred embodiment has the additional advantage of opening the top" of the dispenser and also conserving on the amount of container material.

The side panels are preferably adjacent the lateral edges of the plastic bag supply and thereby serve to hold the plastic bags in juxtaposed substantially aligned position during both shipping and dispensing. The side panels may also serve as the support means for the leash member which may be afiixed thereto by wall-penetrating fasteners, cement, opposed sockets or wall apertures, and the like.

The restraining means preferably comprises a snubbing member such as a rigid or semi-rigid panel resiliently biased against bag portions folded over the leash rod. In a simplified and low-cost embodiment it may comprise a folded-over web of resilient sheet material, e.g., resilient corrugated cardboard, resilient plastic sheet, flexible foam such as polyurethane foam, or the like, which is resiliently braced between the closed end panel and the leash member. The natural resilience of the folded web may be supplemented by resilient plugs, springs or the like. In still another embodiment, the restraining means may simply comprise resilient means biasing the leash rod and bags folded thereover against one of the main panels or the closed end panel. Equivalent snubbing means will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of this disclosure.

Since the restraint or snubbing action need be present only during the actual dispensing operation, there is no requirement that the restraining means be in actual contact with the bags at other times. Accordingly, the restraining means may be located spacedly from the folded section of the bag stack with contact brought about during dispensing by the incipient bunching" or accumulation of the bag portions adjacent the transverse leash member as tension is initially applied to the innermost bag. The permissible spacing depends upon a number of variables, including, for example, the thickness of the stack, the bunching characteristics thereof, and the like. As bags are dispensed, it may be necessary for the snubbing plate to follow the thinning stack, albeit spacedly, to assure contact when bunching occurs.

An advantageous aspect of the current design isthat it lends itself to multi-folding of the overfolded bag section adjacent the openable front end. Thus a variety'of bag sizes can be accommodated without departing from the basic concept of the present invention. Moreover, to utilize all of the internal space of the carton, the overfolded film can be superimposed on at least a portion of the section overfolded on the leash member. Such interfolding and the resulting compactness also assist in holding the bag stack in place and otherwise stabilizing the container in the event of rough handling. Another concomitant advantage is the saving of container materials. The more the bags are folded, the more the flat rectangular configuration approaches a cube. A cube, ofcourse, provides the most volume for a given rectilinear surface area.

Another attribute of the design is that the geometry of the elements of the container and dispenser can be readily selected in relation to the size of the bags therein whereby the extremities of the unfolded bags extend beyond the terminus of the extension to the dispenser base panel and depend substantially vertically therefrom. Experience has shown that this disposition permits the operator to seize the top innermost bag between his thumb and forefinger more readily than if the plastic bags were horizontally disposed for the entire length.

While the container-dispenser combination may be shipped or stored in any disposition, it is advantageous that it be substantially horizontally disposed on its dispenser base panel for dispensing operations. The unique ability of the structure to permit dispensing of bags one by one is generally dependent on such substantially horizontal disposition. In contrast, it is substantially inoperative when vertically disposed. The structure is also operative to a limited extent at angles as much as about 45 from the horizontal in a dispensing-end downward direction, and as much as about 20 to 30 from the horizontal in a dispensing-end upward direction. Any such tilt is preferably limited to no more than about 30 downward and about upward, the actual limits being in part a function of the blocking or non-blocking characteristics of the film. It is intended to encompass such operative ranges within the expression substantially horizontally."

Manifestly, a plurality of the container-dispensers of the present invention providing a variety of different bag sizes can be arrayed vertically or radially or in any other convenient arrangement adjacent the operator carrying out the bagging function. For such purposes the container dispensers may be supported on any convenient flat surface or edgewise on parallel angle members or in drawer fashion. The versatility of the present invention lends itself to a variety of arrangements and supporting structures as may best meet the needs of particular bagging operations and facilities and operator preferences.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of specific embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the com bination container and dispenser in the shipping and storage conformation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly in broken section, showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the container opened preparatory to unfolding the film supply and commencing a dispensing operation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 with the film supply unfolded and ready for dispensing;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view in section of another embodiment in the shipping and storage conformation;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view in section of still another embodiment in the shipping and storage conformation;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary perspective views showing the partial assembly of the container portion of still another embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view in section showing how the leash rod is secured in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that in some instances the structures are fragmentarily depicted with unimportant detail omitted for convenience and economy of illustration. As a result, the drawings may depart in certain respects from actual appearance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the shipping container and dispenser combination comprises rectangular carton 10 having opposed, spaced bottom and top panels 12 and 14, side panels 16 and 18 and end panels 20 and 22. The carton is preferably of corrugated cardboard construction in the interest of economy. It may be folded from a single properlycontoured cardboard bland die cut in a manner whereby the various panels are integrally joined. Details as to the means of fastening the carton together are not per se part of the present invention and this will not be belabored in this description. For present purposes, suffice it to say, for example, that the carton may be held together by adhesive strip 23 at the rear periphery of the carton.

Main panel 12 constitutes a substantially-horizontal dispenser base when the combination is disposed in a normal dispensing position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The embodiment of FIG. 1 is converted from the shipping conformation to such dispensing conformation by means of conventional tear strip 24 at an intermediate point in top panel 14 whereby front end panel 20 and a portion of main panel 14 are horizontally disposed conjointly and substantially coplanar with base panel 12. The normally-inwardly-folded extensions 26 and 28 of side panels 16 and 18, respectively, are outfolded to be essentially coplanar with the side panels, exposing film supply 30, which in a specific embodiment may comprise, for example, 50 to 500 polyvinylidene chloride bags having a flat widthof 9 to 24 inches, a length of 16 to 38 inches and a single ply wall thickness of about 1.5 mils.

One end section of bag supply 30, preferably the sealed end, is overfolded leash rod 32 which may comprise an inexpensive wood or plastic rod, a spirally-wound paper tube, or equivalent. Alternatively, a metal cylindrical rod can be employed which may be disposable along with the container, as with less costly alternatives, or snapped out, returned and reused, depending upon the economics of the particular situation. Leash rod 32 is internally disposed transverse and between lower and upper panels 12 and 14 and adjacent rear end panel 22. Leash member 32 may be secured to side panels l6 and 18 by means of coaxial dowel-like extensions of slightly-less diameter at the ends thereof, which can be sprung into corresponding apertures in the side panels. The resulting shoulder at the rod extremities abutting against the side panel prevent transverse movement of the rod. Another technique for securing the leash rod is discussed hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 6 and 7. Other alternatives are well within the skill of the art.

The portion of bag supply 30 overfolded leash rod 32 is frictionally engaged by restraining means 34, which in the embodiment portrayed merely comprises a web of corrugated cardboard which is resiliently folded as indicated. Restraining means 34 or equivalents thereof snub the bag supply as the successive innermost bags are withdrawn from the dispenser one by one. As used herein, the term innermost has reference to that bag which is in direct contact with leash rod 32.

The other end section of bag supply 30 which is overfolded on itself, as shown in FIG. 2, is prepared for dispensing by unfolding it on base panel 12 and the extension thereto comprising from end panel and a portion of upper main panel 14, as depicted in FIG. 3. The bags are dispensed from the dispenser simply by gripping the overhanging extremity of the innermost bag and pulling it or snapping it from the remainder of the stack. This may be done manually or mechanically (including pneumatically).

Referring to FIG. 4, film supply 38 which may comprise, for example, 100 polyvinylidene chloride bags having a single ply wall thickness of about 1.5 mils in stacked, juxtaposed relationship, are interfolded within a shipping container comprising base panel 40, opposed panel 42, side panel 44, an opposed side panel not shown, and end panels 46 and 48. End panel 46 has an extended lip 50 thereon which overlaps and is releasably secured to panel 42 by conventional adhesive techniques, string fasteners, clips, or equivalent fastening means. One end section of bag supply 38 is overfolded leash rod 52 and the other end section is interfolded as indicated. Restraint is applied to a portion of the bags adjacent leash rod 52 by means of accordion-pleated resilient member 54, which is braced against rear end panel 48.

The container is converted to its dispensing conformation by releasing the overlapped sections of lip 50 and panel 42 and horizontally disposing lip 50 and end panel 46 coplanar with base panel 40. The folded portion of the bag ends are unfolded on the extended base thus formed in the same fashion as shown in FIG. 3 and the bags dispensed one by one as already described.

Referring to FIG. 5, film supply 56, which may comprise, for example, 200 polyvinylidene chloride bags having a thickness of about 1.5 mils in stacked, juxtaposed relationship are folded as indicated in the shipping container comprising base panel 58, opposed top panel 60, side panel 62, an opposed side panel not shown, and end panels 64 and 66. End panel 64 has an extended lip 68 thereon, the edge of which abuts the edge of top panel 60 and is held thereagainst by removable adhesive tape 70, or equivalent fastening means. One end section of bag supply 56 is overfolded leash rod 72 and the other end section is folded on itself in superimposed relationship to said other end section, as shown.

Restraint is applied to the bag portion overfolded leash rod 72 by resilient member 74, the resiliency of which is supplemented by compressed flexible polyurethane foam strip 76, or equivalents thereof, including, for example, resilient springs. The container is converted to its dispensing conformation by tearing strip 70, laying out end panel 64 and lip 68 conjointly with base 58 and flapping the bag end section adjacent end panel 64 thereon. The bags are dispensed as previously indicated.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the partially-folded and assembled container of the embodiment comprises base panel 78,

overhead panel 80, side panel 82, and end panels 84 and 86.

End panel 84 has extension 88 thereon, which is secured to overhead panel 80 during storage and shipping. Flap 90 extends internally adjacent side panel 82, and depending side 92 5 extends externally adjacent side panel 82. Side 92 is substantially vertically disposed in the dispensing conformation and acts as a continuation of side 82 and flap 90 holding the unfolded bags in juxtaposed alignment. Flap 94 on end panel 86 extends internally adjacent side panel 82 and has an aperture therein which registers with the leash member aperture in side panel 82. There is, of course, symmetrical complementary structure on the portion of the container not shown in these fragmentary views.

Referring to FIG. 8, leash member 96 is supported by a double ply bushing comprising the aperture in side panel 82 and the registering aperture in flap 94. it is retained therein by depending flap 98 on overhead panel 80, thus forming a threeply structure, as depicted.

From the above description, it is apparent that the objects of the present invention have been achieved. A low-cost, compact, disposable shipping container and dispenser combination for plastic films such as plastic film bags has been provided which can be economically shipped and stored and promptly converted to its dispensing conformation simply by opening one end and unfolding the stack of overfolded bags adjacent thereto. It provides a neat appearance and permits an operator to rapidly dispense the bags one by one without encountering the problems associated with prior art structures.

While only certain embodiments have been described or illustrated, many alternative modifications and equivalents will be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the at. These and other alternatives and equivalents are considered within the spirit and scope of the present invention based on this application and any continuatrons or divisions thereof, even though not necessarily encompassed by the strict verbiage thereof.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

combination comprising:

a. a carton for receiving said film supply internally thereof, said carton comprising six complementary panels, one of said panels constituting a dispenser support panel when the combination is disposed in a normal dispensing position, one of the panels complementary to said dispenser support panel being hinged to said dispenser support panel at one extremity thereof and releasably openable so as to be disposed, upon opening thereof, conjointly with said dispenser support panel whereby to provide a dispensing opening and an extension of said dispenser support panel;

b. an elongated leash member internally disposed in said carton and secured athwart and intermediate said dispenser support panel and the spaced panel opposed thereto and spacedly adjacent the complementary panel extending therebetween opposite the hinged panel;

c. restraining means internally cooperating with said leash member whereby to engage and restrain the movement of plastic films folded thereover, at least during the dispensing thereof; and

d. a plurality of juxtaposed flexible plastic films having one end section overfolded said leash member within said carton, and the other end section overfolded on itself ad jacent the openable hinged panel and disposed upon opening thereof to be unfolded on the extension of said dispenser support panel for dispensing purposes.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said openable panel has a hingedly-movable lip thereon disposed, in the open posi- 70 tion, to further extend said dispenser support panel.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said lip comprises at least a portion of the spaced panel opposite said dispenser support panel.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a tear strip to 75 releasably open said hinged openable panel.

and coverage thereof is intended by the claims of any patents l. A plastic film supply, shipping container and dispenser.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein two of said panels are opposed, spaced side panels that are adjacent lateral edges of the plastic films and hold the plastic films in juxtaposed substantially aligned position.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said leash member comprises an elongated rod fixedly secured to said side panels.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprises a resilient snubbing member braced against the panel spacedly opposite said openable panel and adapted to frictionally engage at least portions of plastic films overfolded said restraining means.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plastic films comprise plastic bags.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plastic films comprise polyolefin films.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plastic flrns comprise polyvinylidene chloride films.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plastic films comprise polyethylene terphthalate films.

E2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plastic films comprise polyvinyl chloride films.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the overfolded section adjacent said openable hinged panel is superimposed over at least a portion of the section overfolded said leash member.

14. The combination of claim 1 wherein, upon disposing the combination for dispensing, the extremities of the unfolded plastic films extend beyond the terminus of the extension to said dispenser base panel so as to depend substantially vertically therefrom.

15. The combination of claim 1 wherein said carton comprises corrugated cardboard and said plastic films comprise a stack of flexible plastic bags.

16. A plastic bag supply, shipping container and dispenser combination comprising:

a. a substantially-rectangular carton for receiving said bag supply internally thereof, said carton comprising opposed, spaced main panels and complementary side panels and end panels, one of said main panels constituting a substantially-horizontal dispenser base when the combination is disposed in a normal dispensing position, one of said end panels and at least a portion of the main panel opposite the dispenser base panel being integrally hinged to the dispenser base panel at one extremity thereof and releasably disposable horizontally so as to lie, upon opening thereof, coplanar with said dispenser base panel whereby to provide a dispensing opening and an extension of said dispenser base panel;

b. an elongated leash rod internally disposed in said carton and supported by said side panels athwart and intermediate said main panels spacedly adjacent the other of said end panels;

c. snubbing means intemaily cooperating with said elongated leash rod whereby to engage and restrain the move ment of the plastic bags folded thereover, at least upon the dispensing thereof; and

d. a plurality of juxtaposed, aligned flexible plastic bags having a portion including the closed end extremities of the bags upwardly overfolded said leash member within said carton and a portion including the open end extremities of the bags upwardly overfolded on itself adjacent the openable end panel and superimposed on said closed end extremities and disposed upon opening of the openable end panel to be unfolded on said extension of said dispenser base panel for dispensing purposes.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said carton comprises cardboard, said flexible plastic bags comprise polyvinylidene chloride film bags, and the open end extremities of the bags extend beyond said extension of said dispenser base panel and depend vertically therefrom.

i i i #8 

1. A plastic film supply, shipping container and dispenser combination comprising: a. a carton for receiving said film supply internally thereof, said carton comprising six complementary panels, one of said panels constituting a dispenser support panel when the combination is disposed in a normal dispensing position, one of the panels complementary to said dispenser support panel being hinged to said dispenser support panel at one extremity thereof and releasably openable so as to be disposed, upon opening thereof, conjointly with said dispenser support panel whereby to provide a dispensing opening and an extension of said dispenser support panel; b. an elongated leash member internally disposed in said carton and secured athwart and intermediate said dispenser support panel and the spaced panel opposed thereto and spacedly adjacent the complementary panel extending therebetween opposite the hinged panel; c. restraining means internally cooperating with said leash member whereby to engage and restrain the movement of plastic films folded thereover, at least during the dispensing thereof; and d. a plurality of juxtaposed flexible plastic films having one end section overfolded said leash member within said carton, and the other end section overfolded on itself adjacent the openable hinged panel and disposed upon opening thereof to be unfolded on the extension of said dispenser support panel for dispensing purposes.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said openable panel has a hingedly-movable lip thereon disposed, in the open position, to further extend said dispenser support panel.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said lip comprises at least a portion of the spaced panel opposite said dispenser support panel.
 4. The combination of claim 1 including a tear strip to releasably open said hinged openable panel.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein two of said panels are opposed, spaced side panels that are adjacent lateral edges of the plastic films and hold the plastic films in juxtaposed substantially aligned position.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said leash member comprises an elongated rod fixedly secured to said side panels.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprises a resilient snubbing member braced against the panel spacedly opposite said openable panel and adapted to frictionally engage at least portions of plastic films overfolded said restraining means.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plastic films comprise plastic bags.
 9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plastic films comprise polyolefin films.
 10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plastic films comprise polyvinylidene chloride films.
 11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plastic films comprise polyethylene terphthalate films.
 12. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plastic films comprise polyvinyl chloride films.
 13. The combination of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the overfolded section adjacent said openable hinged panel is superimposed over at least a portion of the section overfolded said leash member.
 14. The combination of claim 1 wherein, upon disposing the combination for dispensing, the extremities of the unfolded plastic films extend beyond the terminus of the extension to said dispenser base panel so as to depend substantially vertically therefrom.
 15. The combination of claim 1 wherein said carton comprises corrugated cardboard and said plastic films comprise a stack Of flexible plastic bags.
 16. A plastic bag supply, shipping container and dispenser combination comprising: a. a substantially-rectangular carton for receiving said bag supply internally thereof, said carton comprising opposed, spaced main panels and complementary side panels and end panels, one of said main panels constituting a substantially-horizontal dispenser base when the combination is disposed in a normal dispensing position, one of said end panels and at least a portion of the main panel opposite the dispenser base panel being integrally hinged to the dispenser base panel at one extremity thereof and releasably disposable horizontally so as to lie, upon opening thereof, coplanar with said dispenser base panel whereby to provide a dispensing opening and an extension of said dispenser base panel; b. an elongated leash rod internally disposed in said carton and supported by said side panels athwart and intermediate said main panels spacedly adjacent the other of said end panels; c. snubbing means internally cooperating with said elongated leash rod whereby to engage and restrain the movement of the plastic bags folded thereover, at least upon the dispensing thereof; and d. a plurality of juxtaposed, aligned flexible plastic bags having a portion including the closed end extremities of the bags upwardly overfolded said leash member within said carton and a portion including the open end extremities of the bags upwardly overfolded on itself adjacent the openable end panel and superimposed on said closed end extremities and disposed upon opening of the openable end panel to be unfolded on said extension of said dispenser base panel for dispensing purposes.
 17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said carton comprises cardboard, said flexible plastic bags comprise polyvinylidene chloride film bags, and the open end extremities of the bags extend beyond said extension of said dispenser base panel and depend vertically therefrom. 